Truth About Leadership

We have just launched a new teacher leadership series in West Vancouver. Building on some of the fine work that has come out of other districts, over the next several months, we are bringing teachers and administrators together to explore the attributes and opportunities of leading learning.

To support the conversations, all participants are reading the latest book from James Kouzes and Barry Posner, The Truth About Leadership. Kouzes and Posner have been powerful forces in the discussion about leadership for the last 30 years, and this new book is a reaffirming roadmap.

They write:

as much as the context of leadership has changed (in the last three decades), the content of leadership has not changed much at all. The fundamental behaviours, actions, and practices of leaders have remained essentially the same since we first started researching and writing about leadership

There are many lists on leadership — but I do like the lists of “truths” that Kouzes and Posner share:

1. You make a difference

2. Credibility is the foundation of leadership

3. Values drive commitment

4. Focusing on the future sets leaders apart

5. You can’t do it alone

6. Trust rules

7. Challenge is the crucible for greatness

8. You either lead by example or you don’t lead at all

9. The best leaders are the best learners

10. Leadership is an affair of the heart

Given the title of my blog, this quote from their book also resonates with me regarding leadership:

You have to say yes to begin things. You have to say yes to your beliefs, you have to say yes to big dreams, you have to say yes to difficult challenges, you have to say yes to collaboration, you have to say yes to trust, you have to say yes to learning, you have to say yes to setting the examples, and you have to say yes to your heart.

Our commitment to investing in “leading learning”, — bringing together interested teachers and administrators on a regular basis, is not breaking new ground — there are excellent models in almost all districts. It is, however, exciting as we build our program and structures within the West Vancouver context; particularly, given the current, global conversations about what teaching, learning and schooling should look like in the future.

Our first session was well-received — and the commitment here is that this series is not a one-off — this work is too important and it will be part of what we do moving forward; I left with confidence in new strategies to try as I work with staff, students and leading learning in West Vancouver.

For those interested in a greater sense of the work we are doing, the full slide deck from the opening session Leading Learning – Building Understanding for Leaders is embedded below:

10 Responses

Thanks Chris, I’m just about ot torder a copy of the book for myself, but I stoped to thhink about the quotation you shared about saying yes. It’s too bad in education that you have to SAY yes to all those roles and behaviours.

Thanks for the comment Kyle. I don’t think it is limted to education. I think it goes across many sectors. While there are many books on leadership, and it is important to note this is just one view, I like that it is not only about education. I think we sometimes feel our challenges around leadership are unique to our sector – most of us spend almost all our time hanging around other teachers. Many other areas are grappling with the same challenges.

Chris – oh great, another book I want to read. I wish I could read 10x faster, there’s so much with books and blogs, that I want to absorb these days. #6 Trust is so true… when you lose that with some of those you are leading, it is so difficult to get it back. I would love to read a book that talks about regaining leadership trust with those for whom it may be broken… Any suggestions?

Chris, as a participant I am looking forward to more frank discussion and digging deeper into the Kouzes & Pozner book. Based on our discussion and the challenges that lie ahead as we move on 21st Century Learning and the changes that will occur in education, the more open and honest we are about not having all the answers the better. This will be a slow knowing process I believe but I am excited to be in education and a part of it.

With regard to the list…need to comment on my present personal faves…

8. You either lead by example or you don’t lead at all

As leaders we do this 24/7…or at least try. Whether it is the way in which we handle crisis, speak to kids or deal with difficult situations…we are constantly on stage as I like to tell my Grade 7s.However, this role also extends beyond these forementioned realms.

Recently I ran our Recognition Assembly and as part of it was doing some front end loading for an upcoming author visit. Canadian author Eric Wilson will be visiting my school next week to share some of his experiences from Canada’s newest territory, Nunavut. I had done some digging online and found a great 90 sec video intro into the beauty and complexity of this part of Canada.

In the spirit of taking risks and trying to model for teachers that despite the challenges we face with tech that we need to push forth. So with a gym full of parents, kids and staff…. I added the video to the closure of my ppt. But due to the lack of a internet connection in the gym I decided instead to hook up my iPad with my newly acquired VGA adapter, and rely on my 3G signal.

Sure enough, as anticipated, due to the geographical location of my school, situated on the slopes of the beautiful North Shore in West Vancouver, the 3G signal was spotty at best…and we made it through only the first 30 seconds of the video.

Despite the rather fizzling end to my assembly, I felt good that I had attempted to integrate an additional technical aspect into the presentation full well knowing that it was not going to be sure thing. Point of my story being, as a leader at my site, I am finding that one of my roles is in removing the obstacles that make technology awkward, inconvenient and unreliable. It is crucial and this was one way I found that by leading by example was worth it.

I have constantly shared with my teachers that with technology it is all about taking risks and being willing for it to all fall apart. I try hard to recognize teachers for stepping out of their tech comfort zone and doing something different that is far from fail safe. Once we become comfortable with this feeling of unknowing I am sure that it will be easier to take those risks.

Thanks for this Chris. It would be interesting to hear occasional updates on this group. In the rush to find talented teachers to take on the leadership of schools, I think we overstep some of these very important conversations about leadership. Maybe it is thought that they take place in lecture halls in graduate programs. They may in theory, but the concrete conversations that need to happen most are those based on years of experience in the school setting. In my district we are increasingly turning to this model — smaller groups sharing past experience and best practice. Typically, we have the answers in the room: we just need the time and trust to share them.

[…] Culture of Yes – Chris Kennedy is a superintendent from West Vancouver, BC, Canada, and he started blogging a few years ago. He explains that the purpose of his blog is to “share [his] thoughts and engage the community in ideas.” He also advises other administrators to “focus on a couple tools – e.g. Twitter and blogs.” Recommended posts: “A Student’s View” and “Truth About Leadership.” […]

Just got the book in my mail box on Thursday. It will be my weekend read between hockey, 2 soccer games and a dinner with friends… I think SD45 should go to a 4 day week so I can get all my other stuff done but I digress.

In addition to the arrival of the book, I found an article on leadership this week that I found quite interesting.